Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-02
THE CALIFORNIA MYSTERY.
Another Chapter of Billy Kissane's History
His Lawyers Guarded Revelations.

INC ioiIoHinB III Teyaru 10 the WonueIIui
life Of Billy" Kissane:
Kissane is we'll known to most promi.
nent Californians. He has for years been
very active in State politics, an influential
delegate to conventions, and man who
was always consulted in the division OF
the spoils. He never himself, however,
ran for an Office that was higher than that
of County Supervisor. He is a Democrat,
like the men whom he has selected to act
as his counsel. Senator Geo. Hearst is an
old friend OF his, and would, it is said,
speak favorably of him, knowing only the
history ot. that part of his life which he
has passed i'll the Golden State.
1t is not uninteresting to know that the
attorney whom Kissane sent to this city to
make the motion before Recorder Smythe,
which is to he decided to-day, to dismiss
the untried Indictment Of 1854, was an ac-
quaintance of the former in his youth, but
lost sight Of him for fifteen years, until
the moment when he again met him in
California. 'Then," said this attorney,
who is Mr.. J. B. Hart, of San Francisco,
last evening, 81 should not have known
him but for certain circumstances, and
even tO-day 4 e1nldn't take my oath that
he is the same Bill KisSane who, in 1Si9,
was clerk in Lott Pugh's great pork
packing establishment in Cincinnati
without betraying your professional
trust, Mr.. Hart, can you not give Inc a
mere outline OF Mr.. Kissane's history,
aside from what has been already pub
liShed?"
Mr.. Hart belongs to the typical class OF
pioneers, for it was in 1S49 that he sold out
his store in Hamilton, Ohio, and went to
California. Gradually, and by gentle
suasiOn and timely indulgence, the follow.
ing facts were brOughtput:
81 suppose all must soon be known any
how" he said. "Of course | must stop
at the name. l know nothing about these
charges of crime except what have dis
covered by searching the legal reports.
Kissane, as | have intimated, was known
to me in Cincinnati when / kept store in
Hamilton. The record shows that he was
accused of being an accomplice in the
burning of the steamer Martha Washing
ton, on the Mississippi river, together with
Cummings, Duane and Others. He was
tried at Cincinnati in the United States
Court, before Judge Mclean, on an in-
dictment for attempting " swindle in
surance companies. The investigation was
very exhaustive and he was acquitted.
Subsequently the judicial authorities of
Helena, Ark, near which place the con-
HaglatiOn occurred, obtained the custody
of his body and tried him for murder, one
person having lost his life on the steamer.
He was again acquitted. | have the his
tory of both cases. The first You can find
in the fifth volume of McLean's reports.
'In ls5l the lorgeries were committed
which caused q loss OF SlS,0 to the
Chemical Bank. In November he was in
dicted. You already know enough of that
history. These is no disposition to deny
his guilt in connection with these cases.
We will only say he has outlived it. /
went to California in 1919. In 1857 | met
Kissane out there under the name lie now
bears. | subsequently learned that his
first venture in the State was the keeping
of store in Sacramento. Probably he
made little money, for afterward he en-
gagged in mining ut Gold Hill, Nevada,
with partner, and together they achieved
a great success. In few years Kissane
had anlaSscd between 500, 600 and $500,
OOO.w
Mr.. Hart was reluctant to say much Of q
definite nature regarding Kissane's present
possessions, but said that there was an eX-
aggcra4ed idea abroad regarding them.
Twenty years ago he married u beautiful
young lady, who was twenty years his
JUNIOR. They have now either seven or
eight children-the attorney was uncertain
as to the exact number. The wife is about
Al years old She is amiabe and benef-
cent of disposition, and is much loved by
all who know her. Kissane bears his is
years well, and is regarded by all his neigh
bors as a man of the very highest charac-
ter.
"Iu what county does Kissane live?"
'SunOma.
HAS he any Office in San Francisco?'
"NO."
Mr.. Hart denounced the motive of both
the Chemical Bank officers and General
Darr as hlackmail, and he says it was in
order to head this of that he made the
application to dismiss the indictment. Darr
had written not only to the authorities
here, but TO those at Helena and Cincin-
natl ~ well, to induce them to make ap'
plicatiOn for the eXtradtiOn of kissanc.
IL believe myself" said Mr.. Hart,
'that Darr expects To divide with the
Chemical Bank the proce2ds of this claim
should kissanc pay it.
The attorney did not deny that his eli
ent would satisfy the demand of the Chem
ical bank rather than have his present
name and connections exposed. ''lf,
however, he added, "Darr and these peo-
pie insist upon pressing the judicial phase
OF this matter, we shall begin criminal
actions against them at once for black
mail. 1t is for that contingent object that
ex- Congressman Barclay Henly has been
retained. Why, sir, the attorneys Of the
Chemical Bank in San Francisco, Messrs.
Sawyer and Burnett, wrote to kissane
threatening him with eXtraditiOn TO New
York unless he paid their client the sum
to which it laid claim. But for that we
never should hive called attention to the
slumbering indictment.